Potential site of ORC headquarters sold

A Dunedin site investigated by the Otago Regional Council as a possible headquarters location has been sold to another party.

The Otago Daily Times discovered in October the council was investigating a 7913sq m site on Anzac Ave and Harrow St.

The site contains design-and-build firm Miller Creative, a light industrial-use premises leased to the Otago Polytechnic as a workshop, three student flats, a four-bedroom house, 30 storage units and a 250sq m warehouse.

Tony Johnston, a director of the company that owns the site, said yesterday it was sold unconditionally on Monday to another party.

''We have a confidentiality agreement, so we're not allowed to say anything more at this stage.''

He confirmed there were several parties interested in buying the site.

Yesterday it appeared the council was unaware of the sale.

Council chief executive Sarah Gardner said it ''had not had official confirmation on the status of the Anzac Ave site'', so the confidentiality of matters discussed in public-excluded meetings remained.

The site ''sufficiently met'' the council's requirements, she said.

However, it was ''subject to the forces of the open market like everyone else''.

''We are continuing to consider options, as we have throughout.''

Last year the Otago Daily Times learned the council had engaged an independent valuer and pursued a concept design for the site.

It also commissioned a Tonkin and Taylor flood hazard report.

The council did not answer questions yesterday about how many sites were still under investigation.

Council chairman Stephen Woodhead said he had nothing to add to Ms Gardner's comments.

The council spent almost $10million over more than a decade searching for a new base, saying it had outgrown its Stafford St site.